When I think of the books and authors that have influenced me, I think back. Way back. Back further than that. All the way to the beginning, really, because there’s nothing like the high you get from reading when you’re young. I think that’s one of the highs we chase as adult readers—the feeling we got way back when while staying up late, hiding under the sheets with a flashlight,…
Today’s topic is Writing Through Distraction, which I feel eminently qualified to discuss because my God, it is freakishly cold in here. I think my hand just fell off. Where did I put those fingerless gloves and the little ski-package hand warmer thingies? The key to writing through the inevitable maelstrom of carnage that will occur as you are trying to finish your assignment is holy smoke! Modern Mrs….
In my family’s language , “funny stories” translates to “let’s embarrass the children.” And so, with no further ado: When my son was small, I often took him to visit my father on weekends. Dad lived 20 minutes from us, with a big backyard where my son could run and play. Dad also loved Jack-in-the-Box cheeseburgers, so I usually picked up lunch on the way. One midsummer afternoon when my…
I love independent bookstores. I do. I support them, I stand behind them, I’m all for them. However, with the downfall of Borders, and many people predicting a similar future for Barnes and Noble (unless their Nook can save them), I want to take a moment to sing the praises of these giant chain stores. Maybe it’s because I grew up in the heart of suburbia, where going to the…
There are some topics on which I have no right to blog: Raising twins (don’t have ’em), Skydiving (won’t do it), Sword-Swallowing (ow)… Yet even considering all those, probably the topic on which I have the least right to blog is Balance, and I mean that in every sense of the word. I will fall over if I try to do tree pose, I’m too impatient to find that perfect…
Even as I write this, I’m sitting with my grandmother and sister, watching the Eagles defeat (so far, keep your fingers crossed) the Giants, at the tail end of a weekend filled with fun, food, and family. Work is great — Elixir was a bestseller, and Hilary and I are working on the sequel; Populazzi ARCs have arrived at Harcourt; I’m working on some really fun TV and DVD projects…
Here are a few things I know about change… Pocket Change: My wallet will be absolutely bursting with pocket change… until I’m in dire need of coins to feed the parking meter. Change of Clothes: An absolute necessity when I travel out of town for a wedding, in case the dress I fully intended to wear suddenly no longer fits (clearly it must have shrunk…). Change of Scenery: Moving my…
Good friends are the ultimate external hard drives: they enhance your memory. I remember a lot, but there’s also way too much that’s slipped through the cracks over the years. Yet when I’m with the friends who really shared my life at various points, everything comes rushing back like no time passed at all. For 6th grade through high school reminiscing, there’s no one like Temperance. Our friendship started rocky,…
The Debs are proud to welcome author Diana Orgain as our guest this week. Diana holds an MFA in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University, with a minor in acting. Diana’s plays have been produced at San Francisco State University, GreenHouses Productions, and PlayGround in San Francisco. Bundle of Trouble is her first mystery novel. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and their children. First off, thank…
Who doesn’t hate rejection? It sucks. It hurts. It’s absolutely no fun. I remember my first serious rejection was during the college application process. I applied to a certain Ivy League school early decision. I had great grades and activities, and my test scores weren’t awful. I thought I had a chance. I remember being so shocked and upset that they didn’t want me. I guess I hadn’t experienced much…
